Collector.



No. 826,138. PATENTED JULY 17, 1906. B. H. BEDELL, COLLECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.22,19 04.

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No. 826,138. PATENTED JULY 17, 1906. B.'H. BEDELL.

COLLECTOR. APPLICATION ITILED NOV.2. 2.1904.

[Liza :VVQTNESSES ATTOR EY;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN HARRY BEDELL. OF LONDON, ENGLAN D.

C O L L ECTO R Patented July 17, 1906.

Application filed November 22. 1904. Serial No. 233,872.

traction this invention relates to an improved method of electrically connecting the travel ing cars and the fixed studs whereby the collecting device through which the electric energy for propulsion is required to .be conveyed to the car, which collecting device is dependent from the car, is caused to auto matically descend to make contact with the head of the stud when passing over the same and after leaving the stud to automatically rise and avoid contact with the surface of the road. Moreover, the collecting device is so constructed that electrical connection with a stud is maintained unbroken during the time of the transit above the stud of a considerable portion of the length of the car.

The combined result is to permit of the use of studs whose surface can be laid flush with the ground and at the same time to reduce wear and sparking to a minimum.

In the accompanying drawings is shown a form of construction for eifecting the purpose of this invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a part-sectional elevation taken through the center of the roadway in the line of the studs and the electric-supply cable, showing an elongated magnet which is carried by the car and the collecting device which forms the subject of this application for a patent. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively an elevation and a plan showing the details of the construction of the collecting device. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section showing by a dot-dash line a representative line of force of the magnetic circuit and also some of the elements which are comprised in the electric circuit in position for eifecting the completion of the circuit. Fig. 5 is a corresponding vertical longitudinal section of the lower portion of the parts shown in Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a plan showing diagrammatically the electric circuit.

The magnet which is secured to the car is formed with an elongated pole which is composed of two iron plates at, which are secured at a uniform distance apart and between Which the links I) I) of a chain are adapted to rise and descend with an easy fit. Thechain of links I) b is supported at each of the ,pinjoints 0 c by a helical spring (1, the uppervend of which is sustained by a U-shaped shackle e, the loop of which is inserted through a hole formed in a cover f made of wood. The terminal links of the chain are fastened by a link 9 to an eyebolt h, which is inserted through a hole formed in a block 11, carried on the horn 7', secured to the ends of the poleplates a of the magnet. By means of the nuts 7c the length of the chain can be adjusted to allow for wear at the joints and enable it to be maintained. in the most efiicient state of freedom to rise and descend under magnetic influence between the plates a.

The stud is formed with a vertical stalk m, of iron, pin-jointed to the elongated iron head n, and at the lower end of the stalk m a switch m is provided which on the passing of the car automatically efiects a temporary electric connection between thestud and the supply-cable 0, which at intervals beneath each stud is supported on insulating-rollers 19, mounted in the underground conduit 9. Neither the stud nor the other parts below ground form any portion of this invention. They are referred to for the purpose ofex. plaining the automatic operation of the collecting device.

When any portion of the pole-plates a of the car-magnet arrives at a position above a stud, the iron material of the stalk m and head a of the stud becomes for the time the chief medium of the magnetic circuit from the overlying elongated pole ofthe car-magnet composed of iron plates a to the other elongated pole a, which overlies one of the rails of the tramway, and a magnetic circuit will be induced from the poleplates a through the head n and stalk m of the stud and through the switch-piece m to the cable 0. The magnetic circuit will be continued from the cable through the earth to the pole a of the car-magnet. fIn'Fig. 4 the distance between the poles of the magnet is contracted to save space; but thedot-dash line, with arrows 7", indicates the magnetic circuit. The links b b, which are also made of'iron, become also a medium of the magnetic circuit interposed between the pole-plate a of the magnet and the stud, and under the influence of the magnetic force they are caused to descend in opposition to the upward pull of the springs d and make contact with the head of the stud, because in assuming such a position the reluctance of the magnetic circuit will thereby be reduced to a minimum. On passing away from a position above a stud-head the links will be drawn upward into the s ace between the pole-plates a by means 0 the s, rings (1 d, and thus the chain of links will be evented from making contact with the noad, except at the upper surface of the head of the stud.

The chain of links I) b is electrically connected with the motor-circuit of the car, as indicated in Fig. 6, the current passing along the lead 8, through the controller 25, the mag net-coils of the motor a, then by the lead 8 around a plurality of magnets 12 1), which are secured at one end to the pole-plates a and at the other end to the pole-piece a, and from thence to earth, through the lead 5 In the same figure the circuit of an accumulator w is also shown, which by the switch a; is adapted to provide an alternative source of electric energy through the coils of the magnet when the current passing through the motors is nil or insufficient for the purpose of exciting the magnet. When the chain is in contact with a stud, which latter is at the same time caused to be automatically switched into electric connection with the supply-cable 0, the electric energy can be conveyed to the car for the purposes of propulsion, lighting, &c., and thus the chain of links 0 erate through the medium of a succession o studs as the collector of electric energy from the inclosed underlying supplycable 0. The switch m is caused to descend in opposition to the force of a sustainingspring by the same operative cause as that which eflects the descent of the chain collector, for in as suming such a position the reluctance of the magnetic circuit will thereby be reduced to a minimum.

By the employment of a connected chain of links for the collector mounted in the manner described the continuity of the electric connection with the stud will be maintained throughout the entire transit of the length of the chain. It will be little liable to be vi- 'brated temporarily out of contact with the stud-head and the eddy currents in the mate rial of the chain and stud,-due to the movement of the car, which eddy currents tend to diminish the downward magnetic pull on the chain, will by the continuity of the chain be reduced to a negligible quantity as compared with what they would be if the collector consisted of a number of links separately suspended by springs.

I claim 1. A collector of electricity from successive studs, for use in stud-contact systems of electric traction of vehicles, comprising an elongated pole of a magnet, longitudinally situated in the vehicle so as to be adapted to travel in close proximity with electricity-conveying road-studs, a chain of links composed of magnetic material extended in close proximity with and along the length of the aforesaid pole of the magnet, the ends being secured to the vehicle, and means for sustaining the intermediate links of the chain in a yielding manner normally out of contact with the road.

2. A collector of electricity from successive studs, for use in stud-contact systems of electric traction of vehicles comprising an elongated pole of a magnet, longitudinally situated in the vehicle so as to be adapted to travel in close proximity with electricityconveying road-studs, such pole consisting of two plates equidistantly situated from one another throughout their length, a chain of links composed of magnetic material extended between the two plates of the aforesaid pole of the magnet, the ends being secured to the vehicle, and means for sustaining the intermediate links of the chain in a yielding manner normally out of contact with the road.

3. A collector of electricity from successive studs for use in stud-contact systems of electric traction of vehicles, comprising an elongated pole of a magnet, longitudinally situated in the vehicle so as to be adapted to travel in close proximity with electricityconveying road-studs, a chain of links com posed of magnetic material extended in close proximity with and along the length of the aforesaid pole of the magnet, the ends being secured to the vehicle,and springs for sustaining the intermediate links of the chain in a yielding manner normally out of contact with the road.

4. A collector of electricity from successive studs, foruse in stud-contact systems of electric traction of vehicles, comprising an elongated pole of a magnet, longitudinally situated in the vehicle so as to be adapted to travel in close proximity with electricityconveying roadstuds, a chain of links composed of magnetic material extended in close proximity with and along the length of the aforesaid pole of the magnet, the ends being adjustably secured to the vehicle, and means for sustaining the intermediate links of the chain in a yielding manner normally out of contact with the road. 1

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN HARRY BEDELL.

.WLUHGSSGSZ T. W. LANE, WALTER J. SKERTEN 

